Pelargonium plant named ‘Duetemehopi’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of Zonal  Geranium  plant named ‘Duetemehopi’, characterized by its upright to outwardly spreading plant habit; vigorous growth habit; freely basal branching habit; dark green-colored leaves; freely flowering habit; semi-double dark red purple-colored flowers; and good garden performance.

Botanical designation: Pelargonium zonale.

Cultivar denomination: ‘Duetemehopi’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Zonal Geranium plant, botanically known as Pelargonium zonale, and hereinafter referred to by the name ‘Duetemehopi’.

The new Zonal Geranium plant is a product of a planned breeding program conducted by the Inventor in Rheinberg, Germany. The objective of the breeding program is to create new vigorous Zonal Geranium plants with dark green-colored leaves and attractive flowers.

The new Zonal Geranium plant originated from a cross-pollination made by the Inventor in July, 2005 in Rheinberg, Germany of a proprietary selection of Pelargonium zonale identified as code number Z02-00005-001, not patented, as the female, or seed, parent with a proprietary selection of Pelargonium zonale identified as code number F-06-0618, not patented, as the male, or pollen, parent. The new Zonal Geranium plant was discovered and selected by the Inventor as a single flowering plant from within the progeny of the stated cross-pollination in a controlled greenhouse environment in Rheinberg, Germany in May, 2008.

Asexual reproduction of the new Zonal Geranium plant by vegetative terminal cuttings in a controlled greenhouse environment in Rheinberg, Germany since May, 2008, has shown that the unique features of this new Zonal Geranium plant are stable and reproduced true to type in successive generations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Plants of the new Zonal Geranium have not been observed under all possible environmental conditions. The phenotype may vary somewhat with variations in environment and cultural practices such as temperature and light intensity without, however, any variance in genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined to be the unique characteristics of ‘Duetemehopi’. These characteristics in combination distinguish ‘Duetemehopi’ as a new and distinct cultivar of Zonal Geranium:

-   -   1. Upright to outwardly spreading plant habit.     -   2. Vigorous growth habit.     -   3. Freely basal branching habit.     -   4. Dark green-colored leaves.     -   5. Freely flowering habit.     -   6. Semi-double dark red purple-colored flowers.     -   7. Good garden performance.

Plants of the new Zonal Geranium differ primarily from plants of the female parent selection in flower color.

Plants of the new Zonal Geranium differ primarily from plants of the male parent selection in growth habit as plants of the new Zonal Geranium are more vigorous than plants of the male parent selection. In addition, plants of the new Zonal Geranium have darker green-colored leaves than plants of the male parent selection.

Plants of the new Zonal Geranium can be compared to plants of Pelargonium zonale ‘Flower Fairy Rose’, not patented. In side-by-side comparisons conducted in Rheinberg, Germany, plants of the new Zonal Geranium differed from plants of ‘Flower Fairy Rose’ in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Zonal Geranium were larger and more         vigorous than plants of ‘Flower Fairy Rose’.     -   2. Plants of the new Zonal Geranium had darker green-colored         leaves than plants of ‘Flower Fairy Rose’.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPH

The accompanying colored photograph illustrates the overall appearance of the new Zonal Geranium plant, showing the colors as true as it is reasonably possible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type.

Colors in the photograph may differ slightly from the color values cited in the detailed botanical description which accurately describe the colors of the new Zonal Geranium plant. The photograph comprises a side perspective view of a typical flowering plant of ‘Duetemehopi’ grown in a container.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The aforementioned photograph and following observations and measurements describe plants grown in 10.5-cm containers in Rheinberg, Germany in a glass-covered greenhouse during the summer and under conditions which closely approximate commercial production. During the production of the plants, day and night temperatures averaged 18° C. and light levels averaged 4,500 lux. Plants were pinched one time three weeks after planting. Plants had been growing for 13 weeks when the photograph and the description were taken. In the detailed description, color references are made to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart, 1995 Edition, except where general terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used.

-   Botanical classification: Pelargonium zonale ‘Duetemehopi’. -   Parentage:     -   -   Female, or seed, parent.—Proprietary selection of             Pelargonium zonale identified as code number Z02-00005-001,             not patented.         -   Male or pollen parent.—Proprietary selection of Pelargonium             zonale identified as code number F-06-0618, not patented. -   Propagation:     -   -   Type.—By vegetative terminal cuttings.         -   Time to initiate roots, summer.—About five days at             temperatures of 20° C.         -   Time to initiate roots, winter.—About seven days at             temperatures of 20° C.         -   Time to produce a rooted young plant, summer.—About three             weeks at temperatures of 20° C.         -   Time to produce a rooted young plant, winter.—About four             weeks at temperatures of 20° C.         -   Root description.—Fine, fibrous; white in color.         -   Rooting habit.—Freely branching. -   Plant description:     -   -   General appearance.—Upright to outwardly spreading plant             habit; uniformly rounded; densely foliated.         -   Growth and branching habit.—Vigorous growth habit; freely             basal branching habit with about three basal branches             developing per plant; pinching enhances lateral branch             development.         -   Plant height to top of flower umbels.—About 23 cm.         -   Plant height to top of foliar plane.—About 14 cm.         -   Plant width.—About 23 cm.         -   Lateral branches.—Length: About 5.5 cm. Diameter: About             1 cm. Internode length: About 1.25 cm. Texture: Pubescent.             Strength: Moderately strong. Color: Close to 144A. -   Foliage description:     -   -   Arrangement.—Alternate; simple.         -   Length.—About 5.3 cm.         -   Width: About 6.9 cm.         -   Shape.—Reniform.         -   Apex.—Acute.         -   Base.—Cordate.         -   Margin.—Crenate.         -   Venation pattern.—Palmate.         -   Texture, upper surface.—Pubescent.         -   Texture, lower surface.—Smooth, glabrous.         -   Color.—Developing leaves, upper surface: Close to 135A.             Developing leaves, lower surface: Close to 137A. Fully             expanded leaves, upper surface: Close to 139A; venation,             close to 144A. Fully expanded leaves, lower surface: Close             to 137A; venation, close to 144A. Zonation pattern: Not             discernible.         -   Petiole.—Length: About 5.6 cm. Diameter: About 2.4 mm.             Texture, upper and lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous. Color,             upper and lower surfaces: Close to 144A. -   Flower description:     -   -   Flower arrangement.—Semi-double rotate flowers arranged in             rounded hemispherical umbels arising from apical leaf axils;             umbels displayed above the foliage on moderately strong             peduncles; flowers face upright to outward.         -   Fragrance.—Not detected.         -   Quantity of flowers.—Freely flowering habit; about 18             flowers and flower buds per umbel.         -   Flowering season.—Year-round under greenhouse conditions; in             outdoor nurseries and gardens in Germany flowering is             continuous from spring throughout the summer; plants begin             flowering about eight weeks after planting.         -   Flower longevity.—Individual flowers last about five to             seven days on the plant; flowers persistent.         -   Umbel height.—About 5 cm.         -   Umbel diameter.—About 8 cm.         -   Flower diameter.—About 4.1 cm.         -   Flower depth (height).—About 2.3 cm.         -   Flower buds.—Length: About 1.2 cm. Diameter: About 6.8 mm.             Shape: Ovoid. Color: Close to 66A.         -   Petals.—Quantity per flower: About five. Length: About             2.5 cm. Width: About 2.2 cm. Shape: Obovate. Apex: Rounded.             Base: Attenuate. Margin: Sinuate. Texture, upper and lower             surfaces: Smooth, glabrous. Color: When opening, upper             surface: Close to 57A. When opening, lower surface: Close to             72C to 72D. Fully opened, upper surface: Close to 74A; color             becoming closer to 66A with development. Fully opened, lower             surface: Close to 68A.         -   Petaloids.—Quantity per flower: About two to three. Length:             About 2 cm. Width: About 1 cm. Shape: Obovate. Apex:             Rounded. Base: Attenuate. Margin: Sinuate. Texture, upper             and lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous. Color: When opening,             upper surface: Close to 74A. When opening, lower surface:             Close to 66A. Fully opened, upper surface: Close to 74A.             Fully opened, lower surface: Close to 74C.         -   Sepals.—Quantity per flower: Five, arranged in a single             whorl. Length: About 1.1 cm. Width: About 2.3 mm. Shape:             Ensiform. Apex: Apiculate. Base: Acute. Margin: Entire.             Texture, upper and lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous. Color,             upper and lower surfaces: Close to 144A.         -   Peduncle (umbel stem).—Length: About 9.3 cm. Diameter: About             3.3 mm. Strength: Moderately strong. Texture: Smooth,             glabrous. Color: Close to 165A.         -   Pedicel (individual flower stem).—Length: About 2.1 cm.             Diameter: About 1.5 mm. Strength: Moderately strong.             Texture: Smooth, glabrous. Color: Close to 183A to 183B.         -   Reproductive organs.—Androecium: Stamen quantity per flower:             About six. Filament length: About 1.4 cm. Filament color:             Close to 155D. Anther length: About 2 mm. Anther shape:             Oval. Anther color: Close to 59A. Pollen amount: Moderate.             Pollen color: Close to 28A. Gynoecium: Pistil quantity per             flower: One. Pistil length: About 7 mm. Stigma shape:             Parted. Stigma color: Close to 57A. Style length: About             2 mm. Style color: Close to 57A. Ovary color: Close to 166A.         -   Seed/fruit.—Seed and fruit development have not been             observed. -   Disease/pest resistance: Plants of the new Zonal Geranium have not     been observed to be resistant to pathogens and pests common to Zonal     Geraniums. -   Garden performance: Plants of the new Zonal Geranium have been     observed to tolerate rain, wind, and temperatures ranging from about     5° C. to about 40° C. and have demonstrated good garden performance. 

1. A new and distinct Zonal Geranium plant named ‘Duetemehopi’ as illustrated and described. 